Post by PLUSTAR on Jun 5, 2010 17:34:18 GMT 1
« on: January 29, 2010, 04:27:23 PM »
QUESTIONS ASKED BY MERVJANKEFANCLUB
Q YOU SUFFERED A SERIOUS BACK INJURY AT POWDERHALL EARLY IN YOUR
CAREER,ARE YOU STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF IT IN LATER LIFE.
NC No, I am very fortunate in that it happened in Edinburgh which had a fantastic
hospital specialising in such injuries and even more so that the famous Speedway Dr
in attendance that night - Dr Carlo Biagi - made all the right decisions for me. 12
weeks of being turned 2 hourly on a bed is nothing in the great scheme of life.
Q YOU HAD A GOOD SEASON WITH THE TIGERS IN 81 AND AVERAGED AROUND THE
NINE POINT MARK, FOR HOME MEETINGS WAS THE FIRST BLANTYRE TRACK ONE
YOU ENJOYED RIDING ON.
NC I can't remember any averages like those so thanks for reminding me. Yes , Blantrye was a
tricky little track and not easy for many visiting riders. I have to say though that it usually had
dirt on which suited my style.
Q YOU LEFT FOR LONG EATON IN 1992, WAS THERE ANY CHANCE OF YOU STAYING
WITH THE TIGERS
NC There might have been a chance - I don't know. Nobody at Glasgow was making any
attempt to negotiate for the new season and then I was approached with a good offer
to ride for the newly opening Long Eaton Invaders. The other major attraction for me
to go 'South' for the first time into the Midlands for a home team was the fact that
Long Eaton was a big fast track which I was told would be fairly slick. I felt that I
could perform most places with a bit of dirt on the track but hadn't really got a handle
on the slick tracks so to progress in the job, that figured quite highly as well.
Q DURING YOUR STINT WITH GLASGOW YOU WORE GREEN LEATHERS, A COLOUR
THE MAJORITY OF RIDER OF THE TIME THOUGHT UNLUCKY, WAS THERE ANY
PARTICULAR REASON YOU WORE THAT COLOUR.
NC I liked the colours and thought they were different - and I don't reckon to be too
supersticious - touch wood.
Q ACCORDING TO THE RECORD BOOKS YOUR FIRST NAME IS ACUTALLY ROBERT,
HOW DID USING YOUR MIDDLE NAME COME ABOUT.
NC My elder brother was christened John Lester Close and has always been called
Lester. I am Robert Nigel Close and always Nigel. My younger sister is Susan Avril
but got Susan - so I can't quite see any family pattern there but then my sister could
never say Nigel and always shortened it to Nig so it stuck. I'm sure that many people
didn't like to use my shortened version believing there was some racial inference (or
something) but it was always what I was used to.
Q WHAT WAS THE FINEST MOMENTS DURING YOUR SPEEDWAY CAREER.
NC I love travel and new things and so to be picked to travel to South Africa in 1977
after only a season and a half in the sport was fantastic and opened up a whole world
of experiences and ways of life. The tour resulted in lots of challenges and ended up
with me being part of a Promoting team that obtained the licence to promote the
South African Speedway Championship, built a team to obtain sponsorship, built a
stadium and track from a field, and much much more that went into promoting that
meeting as a live National South African TV event. I ended up runner up in the
meeting to our old friend 'the Haggis' Bert Harkins but it was that tour that I think
has allowed me to tackle many different types of business and events since leaving
Speedway knowing that 'everything is possible'. I have had some disasters as well but
that's business and life. In Speedway, you fall off - you get straight back on. And in
life, you try to do the same if you're lucky.
Q WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THESE DAYS.
NC My wife Liz and I run www.beamsmoor.co.uk which is a domiciliary care business
in South Cumbria and that was spun out of the original Residential Care home
business that I left Speedway racing for in 1982. We ran the Care home in Sedbergh
for 21 years before we had to close it when it was running full capacity at 21
residents because we could not get any staff to work in our rural area. It was the year
before the Polish were allowed into the EU and that might have saved the business –
but we closed in 2003. The Home Care service helps people in their own homes and
we have a fantastic group of about 80 carers along with a management team that are
top class.
I am also an Estate Agent in my own property business www.cobblecountry.co.uk
and have been a builder and project manager on many large developments in
Sedbergh over the last 30 years so that experience allowed me to transfer my skills
to the Property marketing of Real estate quite easily. It's also good now that Estate
Agents have to pass examinations to warrant the title. Another of my latest projects
has just been completed in 2006 and that is www.howgillsbunkbarn.co.uk which is
right next to our house that we got in 1986. We did a full renovation project on our
1701 farmhouse in 1987-8 and then much later got the barn next to the house and
converted it to a 'Bunk Barn'. For anyone who doesn't know what they are - it's a
take on the old Youth Hostel style of low cost accommodation. I calculated that we
could offer a meeting place for Families , friends, clubs to meet in a very good class
of accommodation but hopefully at a reasonable cost. The barn sleeps up to 35
people in 8 bedrooms with each bedroom having an en-suite shower room,
underfloor heating and then there's 2 great living rooms, 2 kitchens, laundry, drying
room and a fabulous patio for those summer evening barbeques.
So with that marketing plug, I'd say to any Speedway supporters reading this, If you
manage to get a group to book sole occupancy for a mid week stay while touring (or
just for a holiday in Englands Book Town www.sedbergh.org.uk/ ) I'll try
and give you a fantasic stay with us in our beautiful area at a special price. Normal
bed rates are about £20 pppn but dropping to about £15 pppn for a group week
booking (all prices on website) but you can expect something special if it's not a
weekend booking. Please note - You cannot get a large bus up our lane which is 400
yds from Sedbergh Main Street
I am trying to promote this www.howgillsbunkbarn.co.uk linking through Facebook
etc but I am afraid that I don't really grasp that social networking stuff but
if anybody reading this knows how to spread the message, then I'd be grateful for
that. And finally, Liz & I have just become proud Grandparents to Charlie Ethan
Spark first son to our eldest daughter Felicity so that's another level that we've
moved to.
And finally finally, father Derek Close and my mother Hazel Close are celebrating
their Diamond Wedding anniversary on 21st March 2010 when we'll be having a
family meal out at a nearby restaurant. I know many older fans will recall his
Motherwell days when he made the 1952 World Final at Wembley. They have been
such good role models for us even though we haven't always realised it at the time.
I recall a quip sent to me by our dear Scottish friend Alex Hughson now living in
America which goes - "By the time a son gets to the age when he knows his Father
was right, he usually has a son who thinks he isn't".
I am so fortunate to have 3!!
QUESTIONS BY GRASSCUTTER
Q WHERE DID YOU RIDE YOUR FIRST SPEEDWAY BIKE
NC It was most likely in the field at the back of where we lived in Sedbergh and then at
Belle Vue when I went to a winter practice. First competitive ride on a track was at
Middlesborough in 1976
Q HOW MANY CLUBS DID YOU RIDE WITH
NC Middlesborough (Teesside Tigers) from 1976 through to 1978, Berwick Bandits from 1979
and 1980, Glasgow Tigers for 1981 and Long Eaton Invaders for 1982. Guest rider at Hull in
first division only once (against Cradley I think)
Q GIVE ME YOUR BEST SEVEN RIDERS YOU RACED WITH
NC Difficult this one. Assuming that I understand the question correctly where it says with (and
not against) then my Best try at remembering as teammates and in order of teams is :
Alan Emerson, Steve McDermott, Wayne Brown, Steve Lawson, Dave Perks
but if it's against then: Tom & Joe Owen of Newcastle, and many others who I had
some great races with..
Q WORST INJURY IN YOUR CAREER
NC Crushed & Fractured vertebrae at Powderhall (Edinburgh)
Q WORST TRACK YOU RACED ON
NC Small track in New Zealand which was like a motocross stadium and Ivan Mauger
reported the promotion to the NZ registration body
Q BEST TEAM-MATE YOU RACED WITH
NC I always enjoyed riding with Mike Fullerton as we worked well together. It really is a strong
part of what Speedway team racing is all about and I have to say that I enjoyed that part
which probably says something about my lack of individual success other than my major win
of the Teeside Silver Helmet in my 2nd year. I was obviously part of the Bandits Cup
success when we beat Teeside in the 1980 KO Cup final.
QUESTIONS FROM MAGGIE & LEX
Q BEST PROMOTION RACED UNDER
NC After I left Teeside, I enjoyed all the Promoters and they were very generous in spirit and
contract to me at all times. I have to say that Berwick does hold good memories from the
Promotion at both Home and away matches and I probably would not have wanted to leave
them except there was some uncertainty over there Home track for 1980 and Glasgow came
in with a very good offer. Although I left the Teeside promotion on less than happy terms
and memories, the crowds were always very supportive of me (until I took the KO Cup to
Berwick in the last heat of our 2 leg Final when we used Newcastle as our 'Home' track in
1980)
Q BIGGEST MEETING RACED IN
NC I think this was the 1980 KO Cup final.
Q ANY INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS
NC I believe that I rode for England in 1 match at Berwick ( at least I have a photo of me at the
track in an English race jacket). I also Captained our Overseas Tourists series in South
Africa in 1978 although that certainly wasn't an official National team especially as official
sporting contacts were prohibited during that time of Racial tensions and apartheid.
Q AT THE COST OFF BIKES -LEATHERS WOULD YOU STILL RIDE SPEEDWAY
NC I'd probably do it for nothing just for the thrill but then that is a long gone dream as I'm 50+. It
is a bug that never leaves you and I was nearly tempted back after I returned to a Long
Eaton reunion about 8 years after I retired. Still only 33, I obviously could have got back into
it but it was a momentary lapse of heart over head and for 3 weeks I was very restless. Head
prevailed thankfully.
Q ANY BIG SPONSORSHIP IN YOUR RACING DAYS
NC My largest contributor was Taggarts of Motherwell who supplied me with an Austin
Princess for a season. It was nice to get that and very considerate of the company to
provide it. I am not sure what the company gained from it as there did not seem to be
any attempt to make a link other than have their name on the car.
QUESTIONS FROM JIM NEIL
Q YOUR BEST -RIDER OF ALL-TIMES
NC I consider that Ivan Mauger was the King of all time. My reason for this is that I
think his determination and drive from the beginning made him the professional that
he became in detail and thoroughness. His 6 Speedway world titles are fantastic
being when the event depended on that one meeting.
Q HAVE YOU ATTENED A GRAND PRIX AT CARDIFF YET
NC Yes, I hitched a lift from Sedbergh M6 Junction 37 with the Glasgow Tigers
supporters in 2008 and saw our English hope Chris Harris take the glory in that
fantastic meeting culminating in that last bend overtake of Greg Hancock (who I also
rate as a fantastic guy who has an incredible history in the GP's.)
Q O YOU STILL ATTEND SPEEDWAY MEETINGS
NC No, other than the occasional one when there is a reunion or some form of
celebration. I did take my boys to a local Workington match once or twice when they
had cousins staying.
Best wishes to the Speedway World